Twenty-five years ago this week, Sheridan native and resident Jim Benepe teed it up in the 1989 Masters. He was in the field as a result of his 1988 victory in the Western Open.

“You immediately have a sense of the history of the place,” Benepe said Tuesday morning, recalling his first drive into Magnolia Lane, golf’s most welcoming driveway. “Washington Avenue (where Augusta National is located) is busy with traffic and people, not unlike Coffeen Avenue. When you pull in, suddenly you’re in this serene, beautiful place.”

And what’s the lasting recall about the golf course itself?

“How difficult it is when you’re not playing well,” Benepe added, noting how successful course management, shot-making and good putting are relentless pursuits for a player to contend on Sunday afternoon. He was paired with another first-time tournament winner, Tom Sieckmann, during that initial round at Augusta. Only one golfer has won the Masters during his first tournament at Augusta, a testament to “local knowledge” of the historically difficult, though familiar, course: Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

Benepe played at the Masters again two years later, the invitation coming from the result of a top finish in the 1990 U.S. Open. Though he didn’t make the cut, Benepe left the course with a good memory: he finished the second round with a one-under par 35 on the back nine.

••••••

More golf………

The U. of Wyoming golf team competed in the Duck Invitational March 24-25 at Creswell, Ore. Oregon State won the tournament with a composite score of 873; the Cowboys were 11th at 906.

Two Sheridan High School alumni were in the tournament: Kamrin Allen had scores of 73-72-80—225 for 30th place; Cameron Lindell carded 83-74-83 — 240 for 81st. Brent Baylor was the Cowboy medalist with 218.

••••••

Fearless prediction: Argentina’s Angel Cabrera puts on his second green jacket at the Masters Sunday evening.

••••••

Quotable

“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated. It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening — and it is without a doubt the greatest game.”

Reader Comments

Tell us what you think! The Sheridan Press offers you the chance to comment on articles on thesheridanpress.com. We power our commenting forum with Facebook Comments. Please take a look at our participation guidelines before posting.